Reclosable cartons



29, 1967 J. G. HUGHES 3,338,505

RECLOSABLE CARTONS Filed Dec. 13, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 INVENTOR c/OH/V G. HUG/1E5 LI mud- ATTORNEY Aug. 29 1967 HUGHES 3,338,505

RECLOSABLE CARTONS Filed DeC. 13, 1965 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1 76. 5 do/v/v 6. #06/156 ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1967 J. G. HUGHES RE CLOSABLE CARTONS 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 13, 1965 ai .LL

INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent I 3,338,505 RECLOSABLE CARTONS John G. Hughes, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Hoerner- Waldorf Corporation, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 513,340 7 Claims. (Cl. 22951) This invention relates to an improvement in reclosable cartons and deals particularly with a carton which is normally tightly closed, and which may be easily opened and reclosed.

In my previous Patent 3,283,991, dated Nov. 8, 1966, for reclosable cartons, I disclosed a carton having a cover provided with a flange extending along the edges thereof, the flange overlying the front wall of the carton including a slit lining flange. The slit extended longitudinally of the flange intermediate the edges thereof and the portion of the lining'flange between the slit and the hinge connection to the front coverwas free of attachment to the front cover flange. Accordingly, this area of the liner flange tended to bow inwardly. A flange was secured to the front panel, and provided an abutment against which the inwardly bowed portion of the liner flange engaged. As a result, an effective lock was provided when the carton was reclosed.

- This structure has been found extremely effective, and cartons of this type have been produced in considerable volume. By pressing inwardly on the forward wall of the cartonjust below the cover flanges, the lock would be disengaged so that the cover could open. One disadvantage to the structure was found when the height of the package was decreased. When the height of the package was reduced to two or two and one-half inches, and the cartons happened to be upside down, the packages would often open when grasped with a hand. In other words, the normal place to grasp the package to lift it was right at the point where pressure should be applied to open the cover. While accidental opening of this type was not likely to occur often, if the cover did open when the package was lifted, the contents would automatically fall out. Accordingly,.it-becarne necesary on shallow packages of this type to change the construction.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a carton of the same-general form as my previous construction, but in which the central longitudi nally extending slit is eliminated and a pair of slits are provided at the ends of the liner flange. By providing an extension on the liner flange, which is adhered to the corner flap of the front carton flap, the'folding of this extension into right angular relation to the liner flange increased the tendency for the portion ofthe paperboard below the slots to bulge inwardly, forming a very effective lock. 3

These and -otherobjects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In, the drawings, forming a part of the specification, FIGURE. 1 is a perspective view of the reclosable carton in closed position.

, FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the carton in open position.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view looking upwardly at the, undersurface of the cover of the carton.

FIGURE-4 is a verticaljsectional view through a de- URE 5, but showing the cover in partially opened position.

, FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton is formed.

FIGURE 8-is a plan view of the blank at the completion of the first folding operation.

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view of the blank at the completion of the second folding operation.

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic view of the completely folded blank.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of one of the end closures of the carton before the carton is completely closed.

FIGURE 12 is anenlarged detail of one slit in the liner flange.

The carton A is formed of the blank which is best illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. As indicated in that figure, the carton includes a front Wall panel 10 hingedly connected along a fold line 11 to a bottom panel 12. The panel 12 is hingedly connected along a fold line 13 to the rear wall panel 14. The rear wall panel 14 is hingedly connected by a fold line 15 to a top panel 16. The fold lines connecting the various panels are parallel.

End wall closures are hingedly connected to the panels described along a pair of parallel fold lines 17 which intersect the previously-described fold lines at right angles.

I hingedly connected to opposite ends of the top panel 16.

The bottom and top closure flaps 20 and 22 are of a length somewhat more than one-half the height of the front and rear walls 10 and 14 so as to extend in overlapping relation. Weakened lines of separation such as perforated lines 23 extend across the closure flaps 22 connected to the top panel 16. The weakened lines of separation 23 define the overlapping areas of the top and bottom closure flaps. In other words, only the areas of the flaps 22 which are outwardly of the weakened lines 23 are overlapped.

A front cover wall 24 which is of a width substantially equal to the distance between the fold line 17 and the weakened lines of separation 23 is hingedly connected to the cover panel 16 along a fold line 25 which is parallel to the fold lines 11, 13, and 15. A cover flange liner flange 26 is hingedly connected to the cover front wall 24 along tailed portion of the center portion of the cover and front I wall of the carton, the position of the section being indicated by the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical. sectional view through the locking portion of the carton, the position of the section being indicated by the line 55 of FIGURE 3..

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG- a, fold line 27. The liner flange 26 is nearly equal in length to the front cover wall 24. The liner flange 26 is detachably connected to an abutment flange 29 along a weakened line ofseparation 30.

Corner flaps 31 are foldably connected to the ends of the cover front Wall 24 .by a pair of spaced fold lines 32.

The center of the space between the .fold lines 32 is substantially aligned with the fold lines 17. Corner flaps 33 are foldably connected to the liner flange 26 and adjoina ing corner flaps 34 are connected to the ends ofthe' anchoring flange 29. The corner flaps 33 and 34 are connected to the respective flanges along the fold line 35 substantially aligned with the fold lines 17. A pair of aligned slits 36 extend longitudinally of the liner flange 26 in parallel relation to the weakened line of separation 30 and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the width of the abutment flange 29. The slits 36 are pref: erably provided with right angularly extending end portions 37 which concide with the fold lines 35 connecting the flaps 33 to the liner flange 26.

the embossed areas being in the portions of the flaps 21 designed to lie inwardly of the bottom panel closure flaps 20. These embossed areas 39 and 40 are embossed to extend outwardly from the plane of the flaps 19 and 20 when the carton is completed. The purpose of these embossed areas is to insure face contact between the front and rear wall closure flaps 19 and with the bottom panel closure flaps 20 and the ends of the carton are sealed.

In the formation of the carton A, the blank is first folded along the fold line 13 so that the bottom panel 12 and front wall panel overlie and extend substantially contiguous with the rear wall panel 14 and top panel 16. Adhesive 41 is then applied to the area of the blank indicated in FIGURE 8. The adhesive area extends throughout the abutment flange 29 and through the portion of the liner flange 26 adjoining the weakened line of separation 30 between a hypothetical line through the slits 36 and the weakened line of separation 30. The blank is then folded along the fold line 27 connecting the front cover wall 24 and the liner flange 26. The carton blank is then in the position shown in FIGURE 9. While the adhesive is still in a moist condition and before adhesion takes place, the blank is folded along the fold line 25 connecting the panel 16 to the cover wall 24. Folding also takes place along the weakened line of separation 30 which is substantially aligned with the fold line 25 when the blank is in the intermediate position indicated in FIGURE 9 of the drawings. The blank is held in the final folded condition illustrated in FIGURE 10 until the adhesive is set.

The purpose of this folding operation is to compensate for the thickness of the parts which are being folded. In other words, when the blank is in the position indicated in FIGURE 9, the abutment flange 29 overlies a portion of the front panel 10 which is slightly above the position in which this anchoring flange is finally adhered. During the folding of the flanges into the position shown in FIG- URE 10, the abutment flange 29 slides downwardly on the front panel 10 to some extent due to the double thickness of the portions being folded.

When the carton A is to be used, it is squared up into rectangular form, and the contents of the carton may be inserted. In forming the end closures, the closure flaps 19 and 21 on the front end rear walls 10 and 14 are folded into a common plane as shown in FIGURE 11 of the drawings. The double thickness corner flaps 31, 33 are also folded inwardly to overlie the front wall closure flaps 19. The bottom closure flaps 20 are next folded upwardly folded inwardly to overlie the front wall closure flaps 19 and 21. The top panel closure flaps 22 are folded downwardly, and the areas of the flaps 22 which are between the weakened lines of separation 23 and at the ends of the flaps 22 are adhered in face contact and overlapping relation to the bottom panel closure flaps 20.

A very unusual action takes place when the combined corner flaps 31 and 33, which have been adhered in face contact, are bent into right angular relation with respect to the front cover wall 24 and the liner flange 26. FIGURE 12 is designed to indicate what takes place although FIG- URE 12 is not a true view, as the abutment flange 29 has been detached from the liner flange 26 along the weakened line of separation 30 so that the slit portions of the liner flange 26 may be seen. It will be noted that the portion at each end of the liner flange 26 between the slit 36 and the weakened line of separation provides a strap 42 which is anchored and adhered in face contact to the front cover wall 24. The portion 43 of the front liner flange which is between the weakened line 30 and the fold line 27 which connects the liner flange to the front cover wall 24 is not adhered in face contact with the front cover wall 24. It should further be noted that the area 43 which is designed to form one of the locks is hingedly connected along the fold line 35 to the corner flange 33, this corner flange being adhered to the inner surface of the corner flange 31 of the front cover wall 24. Whenever two adhered layers of paperboard are folded right angularly,

there is a natural tendency to stretch the outer of the two layers and to cause the inner layer to bend or buckle inwardly. Accordingly, when the combined flaps 31, 33 are bent along the fold lines 35, the portions 43 of the liner flange 26 flex inwardly opening the slit 36. This action is emphasized by the natural tendency of the slits 36 to open due to the fact that the areas 43 have been folded through degrees to secure the wall and flange 24, 26 in face contact, so that the areas 43 have a tendency to unfold along the fold line 27.

As the combined corner flaps 31, 33 are folded inwardly as indicated in FIGURE 12, the portion 43 may bow inwardly relative to the adjoining flange portion 42, due to the right angularly extending ends 37 of the slits 36 which separate, or substantially separate, the portions 42 and 43 on opposite sides of the slits 36. The locking portions 43 are naturally bulged inwardly toward the position shown in FIGURE 6 by the folding of the corner flaps and accordingly provide much more effective locks than would be the case if the corner flaps 31 or 33 were omitted.

Structures involving paperboard blanks which first are first cut and creased and then adhered in face contact before bending are usually avoided as undesirable. Even though the creases in the two layers are folded into superimposed relation, the outer layer must stretch or the inner layer must buckle inwardly when folded. Normally, the corner flaps secured to the ends of the liner flange 26 would be cut off in order to simplify the formation of the end closure. However, in the present case, the natural tendency for the paperboard to buckle inwardly has been turned to an advantage rather than a disadvantage. In other words, while locks could be produced in structures omitting the corner flaps 33, they are found much more effective when the structure is produced as described.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in reclosable cartons; while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A reelosable carton including:

a body including a rectangular bottom panel, front, rear and end walls marginally connected to said bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom, and means connecting said front, rear and end walls and holding them insubstantially right angular relation,

a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall and including a top panel, a cover front wall adapted to overlap the upper portion of said front wall, and means holding said cover front wall in substantially right angular relation to said top panel,

one of said front walls including a liner flange foldably connected thereto along an edge thereof and extending between said front walls,

said liner flange having a pair of aligned slits therein parallel to the fold line connecting Said liner flange to said one front wall and located intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof and extending from points adjoining opposite ends of said liner flange toward the center of the liner flange, said slits terminating in spaced relation,

means securing the portions of said liner flange between said slits and the edge of the flange most remote from the line of fold connecting said liner flange to said one front wall, the area of said flange between said slits and the line of fold connecting said flange to said one front wall being free of engagement with said one front wall, creating a tendency for this area of said flange to bow away from said one front wall, an abutment flange secured to the surface of the other front wall in opposed relation to the secured area pf said, liner flange in closed condition of said cover and having an edge providing a shoulder against which an edge of said flange may engage, and

said liner flange and said abutment flange being connected along a weakened line of separation.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said one front wall comprises the front wall hinged to said top panel.

3. A reclosable carton including:

a body including a rectangular bottom panel, front, rear and end Walls marginally connected to said bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom, and means connecting said front, rear and end walls and holding them in substantially right angular relation,

a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of the rear wall and including a top panel, a cover front wall adapted to overlap the upper portion of said front wall, and a pair of end flaps connected to the end edges of said top panel,

a liner flange hingedly connected to the lower edge of said cover front wall and extending upwardly therefrom inwardly of said cover front Wall,

corner flaps secured to the ends of said cover front wall and linear flange and secured in face contact, said corner flaps being secured to said end flanges to hold said flanges in substantially right angular relation to said top panel,

a pair of aligned slits in, and extending longitudinally of said liner flange between the upper and lower edges of said liner flange, said slots terminating in spaced relation at their inner ends and terminating substantially at the line of fold connecting the ends of said liner flange to said corner flaps at their outer ends,

means securing the area of said liner flange above the level of said slots in face contact with said cover front wall, the area of said liner flange between said slots and the lower edge of said liner flange being free of attachment to said cover front wall, and

an abutment flange on said front wall of said body between the level of said slots and the upper edge of said front body wall against which the edges of the portions of said liner panel beneath said slots may engage.

4. The structure of claim 3 and in which said slits include right angularly extending outer ends extending upwardly substantially along the lines of fold connecting said liner flange to its corner flaps to at least partially detach the ends of the portions of said liner flange above said slots from the corner flaps.

5. The structure of claim 3 and in which said abutment flange is connected to the upper edge of said liner flange along a weakened line of separation.

6. The structure of claim 3 and in which said means connecting the side and end walls of said body includes a pair of closure flaps hinged to opposite ends of said front wall, a pair of closure flaps hinged to opposite ends of said rear wall and folded into coplanar relation with the rearwardly turned flaps of said front wall, said end walls overlying said closure flaps, and outwardly embossed areas on said closure flaps to which said end walls are secured.

7. The structure of claim 3 and in which said means connecting the side and end walls of said body includes -a pair of closure flaps hinged to opposite ends of said front wall, a pair of closure flaps hinged to opposite ends of said rear wall and folded into coplanar relation with the rearwardly turned flaps of said front Wall,

said end flaps of said cover comprising the upper portions of top closure flaps extending downwardly from the ends of said top panel and overlying portions of said closure flaps, the end flaps being divisible from the remainder of said top closure flaps by weakened lines of separation extending across the same, said end walls overlying said front and rear wall closure flaps and the lower portion of said top closure flaps, outwardly embossed areas in said front and rear wall cover flaps adhered in face contact with said end walls, and said end walls being adhered in face contact to the lower edges of said top closure flaps below said weakened lines of separation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,373,977 4/1945 Scherer 229-45 X 2,403,698 7/ 1946 Williamson et al. 22944 2,579,346 12/ 1951 Theander 229-45 2,983,429 5/ 1961 Bergstein 22945 3,100,074 8/1963 Beck 22944 3,125,200 3/ 1964 Henry.

3,144,191 8/1964 Saidel.

3,191,848 6/1965 Myers.

3,283,991 11/1966 Hughes.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. D. T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RECLOSABLE CARTON INCLUDING: A BODY INCLUDING A RECTANGULAR BOTTOM PANEL, FRONT, REAR AND END WALLS MARGINALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM PANEL AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID FRONT, REAR AND END WALLS AND HOLDING THEM IN SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGULAR RELATION, A COVER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID REAR WALL AND INCLUDING A TOP PANEL, A COVER FRONT WALL ADAPTED TO OVERLAP THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID FRONT WALL, AND MEANS HOLDING SAID COVER FRONT WALL IN SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGULAR RELATION TO SAID TOP PANEL, ONE OF SAID FRONT WALLS INCLUDING A LINER FLANGE FOLDABLY CONNECTED THERETO ALONG AN EDGE THEREOF AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FRONT WALLS, SAID LINER FLANGE HAVING A PAIR OF ALIGNED SLITS THEREIN PARALLEL TO THE FOLD LINE CONNECTING SAID LINER FLANGE TO SAID ONE FRONT WALL AND LOCATED INTERMEDIATE THE UPPER AND LOWER EDGES THEREOF AND EXTENDING FROM POINTS ADJOINING OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID LINER FLANGE TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE LINER FLANGE, SAID SLITS TERMINATING IN SPACED RELATION, MEANS SECURING THE PORTIONS OF SAID LINER FLANGE BETWEEN SAID SLITES AND THE EDGE OF THE FLANGE MOST REMOTE FROM THE LINE OF FOLD CONNECTING SAID LINER FLANGE TO SAID ONE FRONT WALL, THE AREA OF SAID FLANGE BETWEEN SAID SLITS AND THE LINE OF FOLD CONNECTING SAID FLANGE TO SAID ONE FRONT WALL BEING FREE OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ONE FRONT WALL, CREATING A TENDENCY FOR THIS AREA OF SAID FLANGE TO BOW AWAY FROM SAID ONE FRONT WALL, AN ABUTMENT FLANGE SECURED TO THE SURFACE OF THE OTHER FRONT WALL IN OPPOSED RELATION TO THE SECURED AREA OF SAID LINER FLANGE IN CLOSED CONDITION OF SAID COVER AND HAVING AN EDGE PROVIDING A SHOULDER AGAINST WHICH AN EDGE OF SAID FLANGE MAY ENGAGE, AND SAID LINER FLANGE AND SAID ABUTMENT FLANGE BEING CONNECTED ALONG A WEAKENED LINE OF SEPARATION. 